Pen with ink cartridge extension and retraction mechanism



Jan. 24, 1957 H. M. SEARS PEN WITH INK CARTRIDGE EXTENSION ANDRETRACTION MECHANISM Filed Aug. 6, 1965 Jan. 24, 1967 H. M. SEARS3,299,857

PEN WITH INK CARTRIDGE EXTENSION AND RETRACTION MECHANISM Filed Aug. 6,1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 la Rf ii :I Ik J0. 57 ill-1 TL INVENTOR.

Rig-j HAPTLE/ /l/l SEARS' 4f f 40 "J BY pub H. M. SEARS Jan. 24, 1957PEN WITH INK CARTRIDGE EXTENSION AND RETRACTION MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet3 Filed Aug. 6, 1965 INVENTOR #f1/@725% A4. 55,416.5'

United States Patent O This invention pertains to a pen, including amechanism for extending and retr-acting a yball pen cartridge.

The arrangement of this invention is adaptable to the manufacture ofpens having a single extensible ink cartridge, or to those that includetwo cartridges that are selectively operable. In the latter instance, itis possibile to utilize inks of different colors, or the same ink may bein both to provide a spare ink cartridge to allow continued writing evenafter one -cartridge is exhausted.

Previous devices for multiple-cartridge pens resulted either in anabnormally small ink supply in each cartridge or necessitated a pen withan exceedingly large diameter barrel, unattractive and awkward to hold.The present invention, however, permits a pen to be constructed with a`duality of cartridges in which the barrel is of normal size, yet a fullsupply of ink is retained in each cartridge. Also in previous pensincorporating more than one cartridge, the arrangement for extending andretracting the cartridges has lbeen somewhat crude and inconvenient tooperate. According to this invention, however, a true push-buttonactuation is obtained in which a single button at the end of the penwill both exten-d and retract either of the cartridges. Over and abovethis, the invention provides a mechanism of complete reliability, whichwill operate with satisfaction through a long period of service. Inaddition, it is of low cost construction, adapted for mass prduction,which is always of utmost importance in the highly cornpetitive marketin which ball point pens are distributed.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved extension andretraction mechanism for a pen cartridge.

Another objectv of this invention is to provide an arrangement adaptedfor the selective extension and retraction of a duality of inkcartridges in a ball point pen.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a ball penextension and retraction mechanism adaptable for a pen ofsingle-cartridge construction, or for a pen having more than onecartridge.

Another object of this invention is to provide a ball pen extending andretracting mechanism that is pushbutton operated and is of low cost, yetreliable, construction.

A further object of this invention is to provide a ball pen capable ofincorporating a duality of ink cartridges, and including an extendingand retracting mechanism of compact nature, permitting the pen to heattractively styled and of a size best adapted for being held in thehand for writing, while at the same time providing a large ink supply ineach cartridge.

An additional object of this invention is to provide amultiple-cartridge ball pen allowing the selective extension of thecartridges through the use of only a single push button.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a multiple-cartridgeball point pen which is readily indexed for selecting the desiredcartridge for extension for writmg.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an ink cartridgeextension and retracting mechanism which is push-button operated, yetallows virtually the entire length of the pen to be occupied by thecartridge so that a maximum ink supply is obtained.

fice` These and other Aobject will become apparent from the followingdetailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawingin which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view, partially broken away, of a penincorporating this invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the upper portionof the pen of FIGURE 1 with the cartridge in the retracted position;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 with the cartridge extended;

FIGURES 4, 5 and 6 are transverse sectional views of the pen taken alonglines 4 4, 5-5 and 6 6, respectively, of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of one of the ink cartridge assemblies;

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of the upper end member of the inkcartridge separated from the remainder of the cartridge;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged perspective view of the carrier for the inkcartridges;

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of the central portion ofthe pen, including the rotatable collar;

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged perspective view, partially broken away, of theupper sleeve insert that is received in the cap;

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary view of the actuating arm engaging .the upperend of the ink cartridge in extending the cartridge, including a vectordiagram to illustrate the forces imposed on the cartridge;

FIGURE 13 is a view similar to FIGURE 12 but with the actuating armengaging the cartridge to retract it;

FIGURE 14 is a fragmentary sectional view of a moditied construction inwhich a pivotal element is included at the `upper end of the cartridgeand the cartridge does not ytilt during extension and retraction;

FIGURE 15 is a fragmentary sectional view of au embodiment in which thepivotal member at the upper end of the cartridge has a hingedconnection.

FIGURE 16 is a fragmentary sectional view of a further modification inwhich deflectable ta'bs are included on the cartridge carrier forlocking the cartridges in the extended position;

FIGURE 17 is a fragmentary perspective view of the pcjrtion of thecarrier of FIGURE 16 that includes the ta s;

FIGURE 18 is a fragmentary Sectional view of the invention as utilizedfor a single-cartridge pen;

FIGURE 19 is an exploded view of the parts that t within the cap of thearrangement of FIGURE 18; and

FIGURE 20 is a sectional view of a modification in which the lactuatingarm is integral with the push button.

With reference to the drawing, the arrangement of this invention asshown in FIGURES 1, 2, and 3 is applied to a pen 20 of dual-cartridgeconstruction providing for the selective extension or retraction ofeither -of two ink cartridges. The tubular housing of the pen includes abarrel 21, above which is a rotatable collar 22 that is utilized inselecting the cartridge desired. Beyond the collar 22 is the cap 23having a tapered frustoconical end 24 out of which projects a pushbutt-on 25. The latter element is used in extending or retracting eitherof the cartridges contained within the pen.

Extending for a substantial portion of the length of the pen is acarrier 27 for the ink cartridges 28 and 29. Typically, the cartridges2S and 29 will contain inks of diierent colors, such as red and blue,permitting the pen to write in different colors through the selection ofthese cartridges, In other respects, the cartridges 28 and 29 areidentical. Thus, the cartridge 28 has a bottom cylindrical portion 30 atthe tip of which is a rotatable ball 31 of conventional construction,which dispenses the ink from the cartridge to the writing surface. Abovethe relatively short cylindrical portion is the main reser- Voir 32 ofthe cartridge 28, which is of oval cross section, as best seen inFIGURES 4 and 5. An element 33, which normally is made of plastic, has alower section 34 that ts into the upper end of the reservoir portion 32of the cartridge 28, where it is retained by friction force. Theremainder of the end member 33 projects beyond the reservoir tocooperate with the indexing and extending mechanism in the use of thepen of this invention.

The corresponding components of the other cartridge 29 include the shortcylindrical section 35 having a ball tip 36, connecting also to an ovalreservoir section 37, beyond which is the member 38 that cooperates withthe actuating mechanism Within the pen.

At its bottom end, the carrier 27 includes a disc 40 of circularperiphery, generally complementary to the inner wall of the barrel 21,which also is of circular conguration. The disc 40 on one side of theaxis includes an opening 41, through which extends the cylindricalportion 30 of the cartridge 28. Similarly, on the opposite side of theaxis is a circular opening 42 that receives the cylindrical portion ofthe other cartridge 29. Inwardly of the disc the carrier 27 is in theform of a continuous elongated web having opposite arcuate surfaces 43and 44 which receive the oval reservoir portions 32 and 37 of thecartridges 28 and 29. Thus, the surfaces 43 and 44 are substantiallycomplementary to one side of each of the sections 32 and 37 of the inkcartridges. The edges 45 and 46 that interconnect the surfaces 43 and 44are dened by cylindrical segments having the same radius of curvature asthat of the disc end 40, hence being substantially complementary to theinner wall of the barrel.

Near the end opposite from the disc portion 40, the surfaces 43 and 44terminate, extending into at parallel surfaces 47 and 48. A rectangularopening 49 extends through the wall of the carrier and so communicateswith both the surfaces 47 and 48.

Inwardly of the at surface portions, the radius defining the outer edgesof the carrier 27 is reduced so that there are provided surfaces 52 and53 having a diameter smaller than that of the surfaces 45 and 46. Thesecylindrical edges terminate short of the end of the carrier 27 so thatthe outer section is rectangular in cross section, having at parallellside edges 54 and 55.

Adjacent the end disc portion 40, the surfaces 43 and 44 of the carrier27 are provided with shallow elongated recesses 57 and 58. These receivethe inner sides of light wire compression springs 59 and 60 whichcircumscribe the cylindrical portions 30 and 35 of the ink cartridges 28and 29. One end of each spring bears against the disc poriton 40, whilethe opposite ends engage the outwardly flared parts where the cartridgeschange from cylindrical to oval cross section. Hence, the springs 59 and60 can bias the cartridges inwardly with respect to the barrel 21. Thesprings are captured between the inner wall of the barrel and the.contines of the recesses 57 and 5S so that they are retained in placeeven upon removal of the cartridges 28 and 29.

As shown in FIGURE 1, a split sleeve 62 circumscribes the upper portionof the carrier 27 and the ink cartridge it contains. The sleeve 62normally is of metal, having a longitudinally split lower portion 63press-fitted into the upper end of the barrel 21. The section 63 of thesleeve ts around the arcuate edges 52 and 53 of the carrier 27, abuttingthe shoulders formed where the sides of the carrier become larger at theedges 45 and 46. Beyond the lower section 63, the sleeve 62 extendsthrough the collar 22 and into the cap 23. In the area of the collar 22,the sleeve 62 includes a circumferential slot 64 extending slightly morethan 180. Above this is a longitudinally extending slot 65 that reachesto the opposite end 66 of the sleeve. The end 66 inclines outwardly awayfrom the slot 65 and may be defined by a helical curve. Alternatively,the end 66 may be a straight sur face at an angle such as 45 withrespect to the axis of the sleeve 62, or of some other outwardlyinclined conguration.

A small tab 67 is bent outwardly from the circumference of the sleeve 62and ts within a slot 68 at the inner end of the cap 23 (see FIGURE 2).Therefore, the sleeve 62 prevents the cap from rotating with respect tothe barrel 21. Also, this rotationally locates the cap with respect tothe sleeve 62 so that these parts always are assembled in the samealignment.

Above the sleeve 62 in the cap 23 is a member 69 having a lowercylindrical portion 70 press-fitted into the cap. The bottom edge 71 ofthe lower portion 70 of the element 69 is of the same curvature andspaced slightly away from the end wall 66 of the sleeve 62. Therefore,the edges 66 and 71 cooperate to define an oblique annular groove 72,which at its lower part comm-unicates with the vertically extending slot65 of the sleeve 62. Immediately above the slot 65, the edge 71 isprovided with a slight indentation 73.

The annular groove 72 dencd by the edges 66 and 71 is utilized inindexing the ink cartridges 28 and 29 for selective extension andretraction by the mechanism to be described below. In connection withthe indexing of the cartridges, the upper end elements 33 and 38 of thecartridges 28 and 29 are provided with -outwardly extending tabs 75 and76 that are received in the groove 72. As a result of this, thecartridge 28, being at the left-hand side of the pen as illustrated inFIGURES 2 and 3, is held at the lowermost portion of the groove 72because of the presence of the tab 75 in the groove. In this position,the lower cylindrical portion 30 with the ball point 31 is projectedinto the tip section 77 of the barrel 21. This part of the barrel is notsymmetrical, but is offset so that its opening 78 is radially on theIsame side of the pen as the slot 65 in the sleeve 62. Hence, when thecartridge 28 is positioned as illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3, where thecartridge is pushed downwardly by the reaction of the tab 75 on the wallof the groove 72, the cylindrical portion 30 of the cartridge 28 isaligned with the opening 78 in the tip 77 of the barrel. The indentation73 in the edge 71 of the member 69 acts as a detent as the cartridge 28is biased upwardly against it by the spring 59, rotationally locatingthe cartridge 28 directly opposite from the opening 78 in the tip 77 ofthe barrel.

While the cartridge 28 is held downwar-dly by the tab 75 in the groove72, at the same time the cartridge 29 is maintained in `a Iraisedposition. This comes about from the tab 76 in the groove 72, with thegroove thereby holding the cartridge 29 elevated with respect to thebarrel. This retracts the cylindrical portion 35 of the cartridge 29from the tip 77 of the barrel. Here, the cartridge 29 is held in aposition where it is beyond the influence of compression spring 60, sothat it is subjected only to gravitational forces when it is in theraised position of FIGURES 2 and 3. The springs 59 .and 60 are devisedto exert an upward force on either cartridge only to a point where thecartridge is lightly above the lower section of the groove 72.Therefore, beyond this point, the springs 59 and 60 do not cause africtional drag force to be generated between the tabs 75 and 76 and theupper edge 71 of the groove 72.

The cartridges 28 and 29 may be selectively positioned in alignment withthe opening 78 of the tip so that each may be indexed for subsequentextension to the writing position. This movement cornes about throughrotation of the collar 22. A recess 80 is provided in the lower edge ofthe collar 22, and this receives a tab 81 that extends outwardly fromthe edge portion 52 of the carrier 27. The tab 81 zalso passes throughthe slot 64 in the sleeve 62. Consequently, when the collar 22 isrotated, the tab 81 and hence the carrier 27 are caused to turn with it.The slot 64 is dimensioned so that the collar may be rotated through anarc of Hence, the carrier 27 is turned through a similar arc 'aboutitslongitudinal axis.

When this occurs, the tabs 75 and 76 cooperate with the confines of theguided passageway formed by the groove 72 to reposition the cartridges28 and 29. In other words, if the collar 22 is rotated clockwise 180 asthe device is viewed from the top in the sectional illust-rations ofFIGURES 4, 5 and 6, the tab 76 will ride downwardly in the groove 72,forcing the cartridge 29 to a lower position while the carrier turns thecartridge 29 through an arc of 180. At the same time, the cartridge 28also moves through an are of 180 and axially is lifted up by the tab 75and the groove 72. This reverses the positions of the cartridges 28 and29.

As noted above, the lowermost of the cartridges, i.e., the one alignedwith the opening 78 in the ti-p 77, is in position for ejection to thewriting position. The arrangement for extending the ca-rtridge includesan actuating member 83, best seen in FIGURES 1, Zand 3. A fiat discportion 84 is at the upper end of the actuating member, and a dependingarm 85 extends from one edge of the disc section 84. The portion 84 ofthe actuating member 83 includes a central aperture that receives ashort post 86 depending from the push button 25. The section 86 of thepush button, in turn, is provided with an axial opening 87 that slidablyreceives an upstanding post 88 located at the axis of the pen andprojecting from the radial wall 89 of the member 69. A compressionspring 90 circumscribes the post 88 and the cylindrical part 86 of thepush button, one end of the spring bearing against the wall 89 of themember 69 and the opposite end engaging the undersurface of the discsection 84 of the actuating member 83. The spring 90, therefore, exertsa force on the section 84 of the actuating member 83, biasing thismember upwardly, which urges the push button 25 to an elevated position.The upward movement of the push button is limited by the interengagementof the lower frustoconical portion 91 of the push button and theinwardly tapering end part 24 of the cap 23.

A portion of the member 69 is cut away to provide a slot 92 in the topwall 69 connecting to a slot 93 in the cylindrical section 70 of themember 69. The latter slot extends longitudinally -of the pen land isaligned with the vertical slot 65 of the sleeve 62. The actuating arm 85of the member 83 extends through the slots 92 and 93.

The arm 8S -of the actuating member 83 includes a first portion 95extending from the periphery of the end disc section 84 at an angle ofslightly -under 90. The arm portion 95 connects to an intermediatesecti-on 96 that is at an obtuse angle with respect to the firstportion, and which joins wtih a third segment 97. The intermediatesection 96 is inclined inwardly from the upper portion 95 toward theaxis of the pen, while the bottom part 97 has a slight outward directionwhen the mechanism is in the retracted position of FIGURE 2. Thislocates the lower end of the section 96 at the inner edge 98 of the slot92 in the wall 89 when the mechanism is in the retracted position. Thelower portion 97 of the actuating arm yterminates in an outwardly bentdoubled-over end 99 which lies against the inner periphery of the cap.

The com-pression spring 90 that bears against the undersurface of thedisc portion S4 of the actuator 83 tends to force the disc fiat againstthe undersurface 100 of the push button 25. However, the lower end ofthe inwardly inclined section 96 of the actuating arm, by engaging theedge 9S of the slot 92, prevents the disc 84 from assuming such aposition. Instead, only a corner 101 of the disc 84, where the firstsection 95 of the arm 85 is connected, can be brought into contact withthe undersurface 100 of the push button 25 by the force yof the spring90.

The insert 33 that lits over the upper end Iof the oval reservoirsection 32 of the cartridge 28 has a V-shaped upper wall defined by asurface 102 adjacent the periphery of the cap and a surface 103 on theinner side adjacent the surface 47 of the carrier 27. The outer surface102 slopes downwardly away from the taxis of the pen, while the innersurface 103 is inclined downwardly toward the axis. Adjacent the insidetop surface 103 is a second tab 104, which is thereby located on theopposite side from the outer tab 75.

In a similar manner, the end element 38 of the cartridge 29 has aV-shaped upper end wall defined by an outer surface 105 and an innersurface 106 adjacent which is a tab 107.

When the devi-ce is in the position of FIGURE 2, the ink cartridge 28 isextended by pushing downwardly on the button 25 at the upper end of thecap 23, causing the parts to assume the relationship of FIGURE 3. Whenthis is done, the undersurface 100 of the push button pushes downwardlyon the corner 101 of the actuating member 83, so that the member 83moves downwardly as the arm 85 becomes extended further through the slot93. As this occurs, the arm 85 is guided by the engagement of theinwardly inclined section 96 of the arm with the edge 98 of the slot 92.Consequently, despite the offcenter reaction against the disc 84, thelatter portion of the actuator 83 still cannot assume a position of flatengagement with the undersurface 100 of the push button 25. Therefore,as the push button 25 commences its stroke, the lower end 99 of the arm85 moves inwardly only very slightly and, as the downward movementcontinues, comes into engagement with the outer inclined surface 102 toforce the ink carriage 28 downwardly with it. The outer tab '75 at theupper end of the cartridge 28 moves through the longitudinal slot of thesplit sleeve 62 as the cartridge is shifted downwardly by the actuatingarrn. The slot 65 .and tab 75 guide the upper end of the cartridge inastraight path longitudinally of the pin. This downward tnavel -of thecartridge 28 will extend the lower cylindrical portion 30 with its ballpoint 31 through the opening 78 in the tip 77 of the barrel.

With reference to FIGURE 12, the reaction of the actuating arm 85against the inclined surface 102 generates a lateral force component F1in addition to the vertical force component F2 that moves the cartridge28 downwardly. The lateral force component F1, therefore, will tend tomove the upper end of the cartridge 28 toward the axis of the pen, sothat the tab 104 is brought into contact with the flat surface 47 of thecarrier 27. Thus, as the cartridge moves downwardly, the tab 104 slidesalong the iiat surface 47. This movement continues until the recess 49is reached. At that point, the side reacting force causes the upper endof the cartridge 28 to be tilted inwardly and the tab 104 to enter therecess 49. When this occurs, the tab 104 is locked in the -recess 49.The tab 104 and the wall of the opening 49 act as abutments that holdthe ink cartridge 28 in its extended position with the ball end 31projected beyond the end of the tip 77 of the barrel.

Thereafter, when the push button 25 is released, the compression springreturns it to its elevated position, and the actuator 83 likewiseassumes its original position. The ink cartridge 28, however, stays inits extended position, held in place by the tab 104 that is trapped inthe recess -49 in the surface 47 of the carrier 27. In this position, ofcourse, the pen is used f-or writing.

The cartridge 28 is retracted into the body of the pen simply -byanother downward stroke of the push button 25. If again the push button25 is pressed, the actuator `83 will move through the slot -as beforelas the inwardly inclined section 96 guides this element along the inneredge 98 of the slot 92. However, the cartridge no longer is in the wayof the lower end 99 of the actuating arm, so that it does not encounterthe surface 102 upon the initial movement of the actuator 83. Instead,however, the intermediate actuating ar-m section 96 will ride along theedge 98 of the slot as the arm moves further downwardly. Because thesection 96 inclines outward-ly from its lower end to its upper end, thisgreater unrestricted downward movement lof lthe arm 85 will allow thebottom end 99 of the arm to move toward the carrier surface 47. As thespring 90 tends to flatten the disc part 84 of the actuator 83 againstthe undersurface 100 of the push button, the actuator will be allowed topivot about the corner 101 to bring the bottom end 99 inwardly towardthe pen axis.

In order to permit a full inward arc of movement for the lower end ofthe actuator, the distance between fthe axis of the disc part 84 and theportion of the arm 85 adjacent the slot edge 98 when lthe arm is at theend of its downward stroke should -be greater than the spacing betweenthe axis and the edge surface 98. If this spacing is not maintained,there will be an interference at the inner edge 98 of the slot 92 thatwill prevent the actuator from pivoting through a maximum arc to bring`the bottom end 99 inwardly to the surface 47.

As the actuator 83 moves downwardly, this simultaneous pivotal movementof it enables the lower end 99 of the arm 485 to contact the surface103, rather than the surface 102, of the upper end '33 of the inkcartridge 28. As a result, because of the inclination of the surface103, the end 99 then produces a reaction F3 on the upper end of the inkcartridge tending to move it laterally away from the axis of the pen(see FIGURE 13). Consequently, the upper end of the cartridge is tiltedaway from the carrier 27 and the tab 104 is brought out of the recess49. Hence the tab 104 no longer acts as a stop to retain the cartridge28 in its extended position.

When the push button 25 is released after this occurrence, it isreturned to its normal elevated position by the spring 90. Also, thecompression spring 59 at the lower end of the cartridge 28 forces thecartridge 28 back upwardly to where the outer tab 75 enters the annulargroove 72 and the ball point 31 of the pen is withdrawn int-o the tip 77of the barrel. 'Ihe slot `65 cooperates with the tab 75 to guide thecartridge during this upward movement.

Of course, when the cartridges 28 and 29 are reversed, a similar actiontakes place, with the surface 105 engaging the end 99 of the actuator tolock the cartridge in its extended position, while the other end surface106 is utilized in kicking the tab 107 from the recess 49 in allowingthe cartridge to lbe retracted.

As a result of this mechanism, therefore, a single push button isutilized both to extend and to retract the cartridge of the pen. Thereare no awkward side controls on the pen, with the extension andretraction both being accomplished by the familiar and easily manipultedpush button action. The upper spring 90 maintains the push button in anelevated position whenever it is released, including when the inkcartridge is extended, so that there is never a loose part at the pushbutton as occurs in many pen constructions. Not only does the singlepush button accomplish extension and retraction of the cartridge, butalso it is used in actuating either of two selectively positionedcartridges. The user -of the pen need turn only the collar 22 inselecting the cartridge to be used for writing and then utilize the samemechanism in an unva-ried way in effecting the extension and retraction.In addition to this convenience of use, the parts are designed so thatthere is very little wear, and long periods of satisfactory service arerealized. Furthermore, the elements are of low cost construction andadapted for mass production techniques.

One of the advantages of the arrangement of this invention is itscompactness and the fact that it permits the pen to be made with a slimbarrel, yet to utilize cartridges having a full supply of ink. Theextension and retraction elements are located at the upper end of thecap of the pen and occupy only a small part of the total axial length ofthe pen. The indexing arrangement that includes the groove 72 and thecollar 22 that cooperates with the tab `81 -of the carrier 27 virtuallyoccupies no space that detracts from the supply of ink.

A further advantage lies in the use of the carrier 27 and theoval-shaped reservoir sections 32 and 37 of the ink cartridges 28 and29. Each cartridge, by virtue of the contour given rto it, occupies amajor portion of the cross section of the half of the barrel in which itis located. A conventional round ink cartridge displaced to one side ofthe axis 4of the pen necessarily occupies considerably less volume ofthe barrel cross section than the oval reservoirs of the presentinvention. This greater volume of the cart-ridges 28 and 29 is used toretain ink so that the cartridges hold far more than any other selectivecartridge pen that does not necessitate an exceedingly large diameterbarrel.

The oval shape of the cartridge reservoir lends itself to volumeproduction of these items. This permits the cartridge reservoirsinitially yto be round tubes, lled with ink and then flattened.Alternatively, the reservoir may be made semicircular in cross section,'which will allow a slightly greater ink capacity. However, this adds tothe cost of manufacture, because the semici-rcular shape necessitatescontouring the reservoir about a mandrel inserted into it, and thefilling operation must take place afterwards. No mandrel is needed whenthe reservoir is Hattened from la circular to an oval shape.

In the arrangement described above, the cartridge is bodily tiltedslightly as the cartridge is extended and retracted. The pen may beconstructed so that the cartridge itself need not be tilted, with onlythe upper end insert of the cartridge making such movement. This 1as--sures that the outer tab will never leave the groove 65, so that thereis no possibility of the parts jamming due to misalignment of the tabfollowing ejection of the retainer tab from the recess in the carrier.Such a construction is shown in FIGURE 14.

Here, the upper end member 108 again may be made of plastic, with itsbottom part inserted into the upper end of the reservoir of the ink-cartridge 109. Adjacent the inner wall of the cap 23 is a tab 110receivable in the vertical slot 65, serving a function similar to thatof the tabs 75 and 76 described above. A substantially V- shaped recess111 is formed in the end of the element 108, from which projects a Iweb112 of lesser thickness than the width of the recess 111. The ydevice isconstructed so Ithat ilexure is possible at the relatively narrow baseof Vthe web 112, which is integral with the remainder of the end element108. Beyond the web 112 is a block 113 having a V-shaped end defined byan outer surface 114 and an inner surface 115. These latter two surfacescorrespond, of course, to the surfaces 102 and 103 of the cartridge 28described above. A tab 116 projects from the inner wall of the member113 adjacent the inner end surface 115.

Consequently, in use of -the arrangement of FIGURE 14, the actuating armmoves downwardly initially to cause engagement of the lower end 99 withthe surface 114 adjacent the circumference of the cap 23. The sidewayscomponent of the force on lthe surface 114 causes the block 113 to moveinwardly so that the tab 116 is brought against the surface 47 of thecarrier 27 as the web 112 flexe-s about lits base where it joins thelower portion of the end member 108. This bending movement is permittedby the clearance between the web and the wall of the slot 111. With thetab 116 forced inwardly against the carrier surface 47 as the cartridgemoves downwardly, it will be caused to enter the recess 49 whensuflicient travel of the cartridge has taken place. The tab 116 in thismanner is Itrapped in the recess 49, and the cartridge is held in theextended positon for writing.

In retracting the cartridge, the actuating member 83 again is moveddownwardly, with the end 99 then engaging the inner surface 115 of theblock 113 because of the greater amount of inward pivoting permitted themember 85. Consequently, the side reaction force kicks the tab 116 outof the recess 49, and the cartridge is released. Then, as before, thecompression spring at the base of the cartridge 109 will retract -it toits raised position. During the extension and retraction of the inkcar-tridge, it moves only Iaxially as all the lateral motion is made by9 the end part 113. The tab 110 is guided at all times in thelongitudinal slot 65.

Another arrangement for locking and unlocking the cartridge in itsextended position through a pivotal element at the upper end of the inkcartridge, rather than by tilting the entire cartridge bodily, isillustrated in FIGURE l5. Here, the rotation of the end element is madepossible through a hinged construction, instead of by the liexure of thematerial itself. As seen in FIGURE 15, the ink cartridge 117 includes aplastic end insert 118 provided with a V-shaped recess 119 at its upperend. The bottom of the V-shaped recess 119 communicates with a loweropening 120 of circular shape. A separate pivotal element 121 includes adepending beam 122 extending into the recess 119. At the bottom of thebeam 122 is an enlarged portion 123 dened by a segment of a cylinder.The latter part iits within the lower opening 120 in the end of themember 118. Consequently, through the clearance provided between thebeam 122 and the wall of the recess 119, the member 121 is free to pivotbetween an outer position adjacent the wall of the cap of the pen, andan .inner position next to the carrier surface 47.

On `the upper end of the member 121 are inclined converging surfaces 124and 125 `on the outer and inner sides of this member, respectively.These surfaces correspond to the surfaces 114 and 115 of the element 113in the previously described embodiment. Thus, as before, when the bottomend 99 of the actuating arm 85 initially moves downwardly to extend theink cartridge, it will contact the outer inclined surface 124, producingan inward -component as well as the component axially of the cartridge.Upon movement of the actuating arm through the downward stroke, thelateral force component will cause the member 121 to rotate inwardly sothat the tab 126 on the inner side of the pivotal member 121 Will enterthe recess 49 in the carrier 27. This locks the cartridge 117 in itsextended position.

Release of the cartridge is accomplished by another downward stroke ofthe push button, whereupon the end 99 of the actuating arm 85 contactsthe inner inclined surface 125 of the member 121. This results in al-ateral force component away from the axis of the pen, pivoting themember 121 outwardly so that the tab 126 is free from the restraint ofthe recess 49. This allows the cartridge 117 to be moved to itsretracted position by the compression spring at the lower end.

With the pivotal movement occurring only at the element 121, the tab 127on the outer side of the end member 118 will always remain in thevertical slot 65 in the split sleeve 62. Thus, with no tilting of thecartridge necessary, it is assured that the cartridge is positivelyguided in all phases of its movement.

In the arrangement of FIGURES 16 yand 17, there is no tilting of eitherthe cartridge or a lmember carried by it, and instead the cartridge isheld in an extended position by a deliectable tab located on the centralwall of the carrier for the cartridges. In this construction, thecarrier 128 has a wall 129 corresponding to the upper portion of thecarrier 27 previously described. Located -on the carrier wall 129 at aposition generally corresponding to that of the recess 49 of theembodiment described above is a pair of tabs 130 and 131, integral withthe wall 129 at their u-pper edges. In their free positions, the tabs130 and 131 extend laterally away from the wall in opposite directions.

Located on one side lof the wall 129 is an ink cartridge 132. The upperend insert 133 of the cartridge 132 has a tab 134 of the usual typeadapted to fit in the vertical slot 65 of the split sleeve 62 as well asentering the groove 72 at the time the cartridges are indexed. Theelement 133 is formed with a V-shaped end, having an outer surface 135and an inner surface 136. A short straight section 137, radial withrespect to the ink cartridge, conl0 nects yto the lower edge of theinner inclinedend surface 136.

On the opposite side of the wall 129 of the carrier 128 is a second inkcartridge 138, similar to the cartridge 132. As before, the cartridgesare indexed through rotation of the carrier 128 to locate one of thecartridges beneath the actuating arm 85.

In operation of this unit, the downward force from the actuating arm isfirst transmitted through the outer surface 135 to move the cartridge132 downwardly to its extended position. There is no tilting movement ofthe cartridge, nor pivotal movement of the top end part 133 as thecartridge is shifted downwardly. The movement takes place until thelower edge of the tab 130 is reached, at which time the tab springsoutwardly to fit over the surface 137 at the inner end of the cartridge.Prior to this time, the tab 130 will be retracted into the wall 129because the cartridge 132 will prevent lit from assuming its freeposition. After the tab 130 has been permitted -to move outwardly overthe surface 137, upon release of the push button, the tab 130 holds thecartridge 132 in the extended position, as shown in FIGURE 16.

In order to return the cartridge to its retracted position, the pushbutton is again actuated and, as before, the lower end 99 of theactuating arm can move inwardly further because it will not immediatelycontact the upper end of the cartridge las the downward movement of thearm takes place. Consequently, the end 99 of the actuating arm willstrike the tab 130 `as it moves downwardly. This produces a forcebiasing the tab 130 inwardly to retract it within the contines of thecarrier wall 129. Thus, the arm forces the tab inwardly to where itmoves olf the end edge surface 137, freeing the cartridge 132. Thisallows the cartridge 132 to move upwardly to its retracted position. Asthis occurs, the tab is held flush with the wall 129 of the carrier bythe side of the cartridge 132. Later, it will spring outwardly againwhen the cartridge again is extended to its writing position.

Naturally, a similar action takes place for the other cartridge 138 whenit is indexed beneath the actuating arm 85, with the tab 131 being usedto retain it in the extended position.

The extension and retraction mechanism is readily adapted tosingle-cartridge pen construction, as shown in FIGURES 18 and 19. Insuch instances, the pen may be made to have an oversize ink cartridgeproviding an exceptionally large reservoir of available ink. Thecartridge 140 may be circular in cross section to occupy the vmajorportion lof the volume within the cap and barrel of the pen because onlyone cartridge is present. The cartridge 140 is slightly smaller indiameter than the inside wall of the cap 141 so that the cartridge iscapable of tilting with respect to the axis of the pen. The end insert142 for the top end of the cartridge 140 has an upper wall defined bytwo intersecting conical surfaces. The inner portion 143 is a fullconical section having its -apex facing upwardly. The base of theconical surface 143 meets the bottom edge of a yfrustoconical outersurface 144 that extends upwardly and outwardly to the circumference ofthe element 142.

Received in the upper portion of the cap 141 is a member 146 having alower cylindrical portion 147 that engages the inner Wall -of the capwith a press it. The section 147 includes an elongated extension 148 onone side and a short extension 149 on the other. A radial end wall 150extends across t'he upper end of the cylindrical portion 147, and a post151 projects axially from this surface. The cut-away portion for theactuating arm is on the side of the short extension 149 of thecylindrical portion 147, and is defined by slots 152 and 153 in thewalls 147 and 150, respectively.

The actuator 154 is generally similar to the actuator 83, including adisc portion 155 received on the post 151 above a compression spring156. The actuating arm 157 extends from one side of the disc portion155, providing lll a corner 158 that bears against the undersurface 159of the push button 160. The arm 157 includes an upper portion 161 thatextends from the disc part 155 at slightly less than 90. Beneath the armsection 161 is the intermediate portion 162 that inclines inwardlytoward the axis 4of the pen, and joins the -lower portion 163 thatterminates in a doubled-over end 164.

In the elevated position of FIGURE 18, the lower part of the arm section162 is at the slot 153, so that the actuating arm bears against theinner edge 165 of the slot 153. This holds the actuating arm outwardlywith respect to the axis of the pen, so that the compression spring 156cannot force the disc `section 155 into flat engagement with theundersurface 159 of the -push button 160.

W'hen the push button 160 is pushed downwardly, the reaction against thecorner 158 of the actuator forces the actuating arm 157 also downwardlythrough the `slot 153. As this movement commences, the lower end 164 ofthe actuating arm 157 engages the upwardly directed conical surface 143of .the end piece 142 of the ink cartridge 140'. This engagement is onthe side of the pen axis opposite from the extension 148 of thecylindrical part 147 of the member 146. Because of the inclined natureof the conical surface 143, there is a lateral component of force urgingthe upper end of the pen cartridge to the right as the device isillustrated in FIGURE 18, causing the outer edge of the top piece 142 toengage and slide along the inner wall of the bottom extension 148 of thecylindrical section 147. This movement continues until the lower edge166 `of the extension 148 is reached, at which time the top of thecartridge is free to move further to the right to cause the upper edgeof the cartridge to engage the inner Wall of the cap 141. This positionsthe upwardly inclined surface 144 of the end piece 142 beneath thebottom edge 166 of the extension 148. Therefore, upon release of thepush button and the raising of the actuating arm 157, the surface 144will engage the lower edge 166, thereby holdin-g the cartridge in itslower or extended position. In this manner, the surfaces 144 and 166 ofthe cartridge assembly and retainer sleeve 146 provide an abutment and arecess to hold the cartridge as in the mechanisms described above.Preferably, the edge 166 is undercut as illustrated to facilitate itsretention of the cartridge at the surface 144.

In order to release the cartridge, the push button again i-s actuated,bringing the arm downwardly through the slot 153 and causing theintermediate section 162 to slide along the inner edge 165 of the slot.Because the ink cartridge is not met by the initial movement of theactuating arm, it is permitted to pivot about the corner 158, so thatthe lower end 164 of the arm moves inwardly and past the axis of the pentoward the lower end extension 148 of the member 146. This means thatthe bottom end 164 of the actuating arm will cross the apex of thesurface 143 to engage the surface 143 lon the opposite side of the apex.Thus, the actuating arm engages differently inclined `surface portionsin the extension and retraction strokes. When the engagement is past theapex, there is a lateral component of force generated, tending to movethe upper end of the pen cartridge back to the left as the devi-ce isillustrated. Therefore, in the retracting stroke of the push button, theactuating arm pushes down on the surface 143 and removes the surface 144from beneath the edge 166 of the extension 148 of the member 146. Thistilts the upper end of the cartridge 140 back toward the left of thedevice, as shown in FIGURE 18, so that, upon release of the push button,the spring on the ink cartridge returns the cartridge to its elevatedposition. In the raise-d position, the opposite edge of the upper end ofthe top piece 142 ofthe cartridge 140 contacts the bottom edge 167 ofthe short extension 149 beneath the slot 152, which thereby stops thecartridge at its elevated position.

It should be noted that, when a single cartridge is utilized,.it is notrequired that provision be made for aligning the cartridge rotationallywith the actuating arm to assure that the upper end of the cartridgewill be held in its extended position. Before, it was necessary toassure that the horizontal axes of the inclined surfaces at the upperend of the ink cartridge were substantially parallel to the surface 47of the carrier in which was formed the recess 49. This was in order thatthe inner locking tab would always be forced into the recess 49 as thecartridge was moved downwardly. With the singlecartridge construction,however, symmetrical conical surfaces can be utilized at the top end ofthe cartridge, and will lock under the bottom edge 166 of the extension148, regardless of the rotational position of the cartridge. Themechanism becomes even simpler for the single-cartridge arrangement thanit is for the dual-cartridge construction. It should be noted also that,if desired, a pivotal element could be provided at the upper end of thecartridge for the single-cartridge construction instead of employing atilting cartridge as in the design illustrated.

If desired, the actuating arm and push button may be made integral tofurther simplify the construction and assembly of the pen. Thisarrangement is shown in FIG- URE 20. Here, the push button 169 isapertured to receive the post 170 of the top insert 171, the latterelement corresponding to either the part 69 or 146 described above. Inthis embodiment, a modified spring installation is shown, with thecompression spring 172 being located within the axial opening 173 in thepush button immediately above the post 170. This spring position ispossible because it only provides an axial force on the push button anddoes not react on the actuating arm.

From one side 0f the lower surface 174 of the push button extends anactuating arm 175 that tits through the slot 176 in the member 171. Thearm 175 is made as a spring that is biased inwardly against the inneredge 177 of the slot 176. It is an inclined element, held outwardly bythe edge 177 when the push button 169 is held in the raised position by:the spring 172. This means that the bottom end 178 of the actuating arm175 will engage the outer surface of the upper end of the ink cartridgeupon depression of the push button 169. For release of the cartridge,upon extending the push button downwardly, the arm 175 rides along theedge 177 and, by virtue of the inward bias inherent in the constructionof the arm 175, its bottom end 178 will then move inwardly. This allowsit to engage :the opposite inclined surface of the ink cartridge torelease it from its retaining element.

The foregoing detailed description is to be clearly understood as givenby way of illustration and example only, the spirit and scope of thisinvention being limited solely by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A project-retract mechanism for a pen having an elongated tubularhousing having a cap end and a tip end, an ink cartridge means in saidhousing, said cartridge means having an ink dispensing end and beingmovable axially between a retracted position in which said end iswithdrawn into said housing and an extended position in which said endprojects from said tip end of said housing, comprising surface means onthe opposite end of said cartridge means, said surface means beingconvergent axially outwardly with respect to said cartridge means to anapical portion laterally inward of the wall of said housing,

an actuating means for moving said cartridge means to said extendedposition,

said actuating means including an arm movable longitudinally of saidhousing from a first outer position to a second inner position,

said arm having an end engageable with said surface means at saidopposite end of said cartridge means,

said arm including resilient means biasing said end of said arm towardone side of said apical portion, guide means for preventing said armfrom moving to said one side of said apical portion until said arm hasbeen positioned longitudinally relatively adjacent said second innerposition,

whereby when said cartridge means is in said retracted positionadvancement of said arm inwardly from said first outer position willcause said end of said arm to engage said surface means of saidcartridge means on the opposite side of said apical portion,

and when said cartridge means is in said extended position -advancementof said actuating arm inwardly from said rst outer position will causesaid end of said actuating arm to exert a laterasl force component onsaid one side of said apical portion, said convergent surface means ofsaid cartridge means being inclined with respect to the axis of saidcartridge means so as to cause said actuating arm to exert at lateralforce component on said opposite end of said cartridge means upon suchengagement therewith biasing said opposite end of said cartridge meanslaterally toward the side of said housing opposite from the side of saidapical portion engaged by said end of said arm, and an abutment in saidhousing on said one side of said apical portion,

said cartridge means including a cooperative abutment engageable withsaid rst-mentioned abutment upon movement of said cartridge means tosaid extended position and in response to the lateral force componentexerted by said actuating arm, the lateral force component uponengagement by said actuating arm with said surface means of saidcartridge means on said one side of said apical portion when `saidcartridge means is in said extended position moving said abutments outof interengagement,

whereby said cartridge means is movable to said retracted position. 2. Adevice as recitedin claim 1 in which two of said cartridge means areincluded in said housing substantially in parallelism, and including inaddition a carrier for retaining said cartridge means, v

said carrier having a wall intermediate said cartridge means, meansindependent of said actuating means for rotating said carriersubstantially about the longitudinal axis of said housing forselectively bringing each of said cartridgey means in a position ofadjacency with said end of said actuating arm while the cartridge meansnot so brought into adjacency is located remote from said end of saidactuating arm. 3. A device as recited in claim 2 in which said tip endof said housing converges to a location oiset `from the axis of saidhousing toward one side thereof,

said opening being in said location, and including means for extendingone of said cartridge means into said tip end partially toward saidprojected lposition when said one cartridge means is Vbrought into saidposition of adjacency with said end of said actuating arm,

and simultaneously withdrawing the ink dispensing end of the other ofsaid cartridge means from said tip end while positioning the oppositeend of said other cartridge means laterally to one side of saidactuating arm and relatively closer to said cap end than is said end ofsaid actuating arm.

4. A device as recited in claim 1, in which said opposite end of saidcartridge means includes an end member,

said end member having a base portion attached to said cartridge means,and a beam portion,

said beam portion being bendable to allow pivotal movement thereofrelative to said cartridge means, said 'beam portion including saidconvergent surface means and said abutment of said cartridge :means sothat said beam portion is bendable by said actuating arm for moving saidabutment of said cartridge means laterally in one direction relative tothe remaining portions of said cartridge means to brin-g said abutmentof said cartridge means into engagement with said first mentionedabut-ment and benda'ble in the opposite direction by said actuating armfor disengaging said abutments from each other. 5. A device as recitedin claim 1 in Which said opposite end of said cartridge means includesan end member,

said end member having a iirst portion connected to said cartridgemeans, a second portion, and a hinge connecting said first portion tosaid second portion of said end member for pivotal movement about anaxis transverse to the axis of said cartridge means,

said second portion dening said convergent surface means and includingsaid abutment of said cartridge means, said second portion of said endmember being pivotal about said hinge in response to said lateral forcecomponentot' said actuating member. 6. A project-retract mechanism for apen having a housing having a tip end portion, ink cartridge means insaid housing movable relative thereto between a retracted position and aprojected position in which an end of said ink cartridge projects fromsaid tip end of said housing, and spring means biasing said cartridgemeans toward said retracted position, comprising an actuating mernbermovable through a stroke toward and away from said tipend and engageablewith a section of said cartridge means when so moved toward said tip,

said section including a plurality of oblique surface portions, guidemeans for causing said actuating member to assume a first lateralposition to engage one of said oblique surface portions when saidactuating member is moved toward said tip and said cartridge means is insaid retracted position to exert a force on said cartridge means to movesaid cartridge means longitudinally to said projected position and tomove said section of said cartridge means laterally in one direction,and retainer means in said housing engageable with said cartridge meanswhen said cartridge means is so moved longitudinally and laterally forholding said cartridge means in said projected position,

said guide means including means for causing said actuating member tomove laterally in said one direction beyond said first position whensaid actuating member is moved toward said tip when said cartridge meansis in said projected position for causing said actuating member toengage a different oblique surface portion for exerting a lateral forcein a dilferent direction on said cartridge means and moving saidcartridge means out of engagement with said rel tainer means forpermitting movement of said cartridge means to said retracted position.

7. A device as recited in claim 6 in which two of said cartridge meansare received in said housing, and including means independent of saidcartridge-positioning means for selectively moving said cartridge meansinto operative relationship with said actuating member, and in which atleast a. portion of said housing is cylindrical, each of saidcartridgemeans including an ink-retaining reservoir portion in saidcylindrical portion of said housing,

said reservoir portions being on opposite sides of a diameter of saidcylindrical portion, each reservoir portion being noncircular in crosssection enlarged in the direction of said diameter for thereby providingan increased ink cap-acity. 8. A device as recited in claim 6 in whichtwo of said cartridge means are received in said housand including meansfor indexing said cartridge means,

said indexing means including a carrier to hold said cartridge meanssubstantially in parallelism, and means independent of saidcartridge-positioning means for rotating said carrier substantiallyabout the axis of said housing to selectively position said cartridgemeans in operative relationship with said actuating member for operationthereby, said tip end portion being convengent to a location offset ofthe longitudinal axis of said housing, said indexing means includingmeans to longitudinally extend one of said cartridge means into said tipend portion when said one cartridge means is in operative relationshiplwith said actuatin-g member,

and simultaneously to longitudinally withdraw the other cartridge meansfrom said tip end portion.

9. A project-retract mechanism for a pen having a housing, an inkcartridge means in said housing, said cartridge means having an inkdispensing end and being movable relative to said housing [between aretracted position in which said ink dispensing end is in said housingand an extended position in whch said end is projected from saidhousing, and resilient means biasing said cartridge means to saidretracted position, said mechanism comprising inclined surface means onsaid cartridge means at the opposite end thereof,

said surface means providing a rst surface means inclininglongitudinally inwardly and laterally outwardly toward one side of saidhousing, and a second surface means inclining longitudinally inwardlyand laterally outwardly toward the opposite side of said housing, andactuating means for imparting said movement to said cartridge means,

said actuating means including an arm having an end adjacent and beyondsaid opposite end of said cartridge means,

said arm being movable inwardly with respect to said cartridge means forengaging said opposite end and moving said cartridge means therewith,guide means positioning said end of said arm adjacent said iirst surfacemeans of said cartridge means when said cartridge means is in saidretracted position with respect to said housing,

whereby upon said inward movement said end engages said rst surfacemeans and produces thereon a longitudinal reaction force for movin-gsaid cartridge means longitudinally of said housing for extending saidink- Vdispensing end through said opening, and a lateral reaction forceurging said t opposite end of said Acartridge means toward said oppositeside of said housmg,

said housing and said cartridge means including interengageable abutmentmeans for retaining said cartridge means upon a predetermined amount ofsaid longitudinal and lateral movement of said cartrid-ge in response tosuch movement of said arm, said guide means causing said end of said armto move laterally toward said opposite side of said housing upon asubsequent inward stroke of said arm for causing said end of said arm toengage said second surface means for producing a lateral reaction forceurging said opposite end of said cartridge means toward said one side ofsaid housing and causing disengagement of said abutment means and therelease of said cartridge means therefrom. 10. A device as recited inclaim 9 in which at least a portion of said housing is cylindrical, saidarm of said actuating means is adjacent said one side of said housing,two of said cartridge means are included in said housing substantiallyin parallelism, and including in addition a carrier for retaining saidcartridge means,

said carrier having a wall intermediate said cartridge means, saidcarrier being rotatable substantially about the longitudinal axis ofsaid housing for selectively bringing each of said cartridge means tosaid one side of said housing in a position of adjacency with said endof said actuating arm, each of said cartridge means having a reservoirportion in said cylindrical portion that is noncircular in crosssection,

being enlanged in one direction to a width approaching the diameter ofthe section of the housing within which the cartridge means is locatedand extending in the other direction a distance approaching the lengthof the radius of the housing section within which it is located. 11. Adevice as recited in claim 10 including in addition an oblique guidepassage in said housing,

each of said cartridge means having an element extending into saidIguide passage,

said guide passage havin-g an axially inner portion on said one side ofsaid housing adjacent said end of said actuating arm, and an axiallyouter portion on said opposite side of said housing adjacent said end ofsaid actuating arm,

whereby the cartridge means positioned by said carrier adjacent said endof said actuating arm is moved axially by said guide passage toward saidopening in said housing, while the other of said cartridge means ismoved by said guide passage axially away from said opening in saidhousing and to a position laterally to one side of said end of saidactuating arm. y12. A project-retract mechanism for a pen having anelongated tubular housing having a tip end and a cap end, an inkcartridge in said housing, said ink cartridge having an ink dispensingend, and :being movable axially relative to said housing between aretracted position in which said ink dispensing end is in said housingand an extended position in which said ink dispensing end is extendedthrough said tip end of said housing, and resilient means -biasing saidcartridge to said retracted position, said mechanism comprisingactuating means for effecting said movement of said cartridge,

said actuating means being movable axially with respect to said housingfrom a first position axially outwardly of the opposite end of said inkcartridge to a second lposition for engaging said opposite end andmoving said ink cartridge therewith axially of said housing from saidretracted to said extended position, said opposite end of said cartridgeincluding surface means converging axially outwardly with respect tosaid cartridge and toward an apical portion laterally inwardly of theinner surface of said housing, and guide means for causing and actuatingmeans to engage said surface means on one side of said apical portionadjacent one side of said housing upon said movement of said actuatingmeans when said ink cartridge is in said retracted position,

whereby said actuating means produces a lateral force component biasingsaid opposite end of said cartridge away from said one side of saidhousing, l and abutment means in said housing remote from said one sidethereof,

said cartridge including an abutment means engageable with saidrst-mentioned abutment means upon a predetermined axial movement of saidcartridge in response to the force exerted by said actuating means,

said lateral force component urging said abutment means intointerengagement, said guide means including means for causing lateralmovement of said actuating means so that said actuating means engagessaid surface means on the opposite side of said apical portion uponadvancement of said actuating means toward said cartridge when saidcartridge is in said extended position for causing said actuating meansto exert a lateral force component 'biasing said opposite end of saidcartridge toward said one side of sai-d housing for thereby disengagingsaid abutment means for permitting said resilient means to move saidcartridge to said retracted position` 13. A device as recited in claim12 in which said actuating means includes a push button at one end ofsaid housing, said push button being movable axially inwardly withrespect to said housing toward said opposite end of said cartridge, anactuating member,

said actuating member having a rst portion adjacent said push button,and a second portion extending angularly from said iirst portion towardsaid opposite end of said cartridge,

said actuating member being in engagegagement with said push button at alocation intermediate said iirst and second portions of said actuatingmember, resilient means urging said rst portion of said actuating membertoward a position of engagement with said push button,

for causing pivotal movement of said actuating member about saidintermediate location,

18 said guide means including a guide surface in said housing adjacentsaid second portion of said actuating member and normally in engagementtherewith for limiting the amount of such pivotal movement of saidactuating member, said second portion of said actuating member soengaging said guide surface being inclined inwardly with respect to theaxis of said housing from an outer portion remote from said opposite endof said cartridge to an inner portion adjacent said opposite end of saidcartridge,

to permit increasingly greater amounts of said pivotal movement as saidactuating member is moved axially inwardly of said housing by axiallyinward movement of said push button, the axially inner end of saidsecond portion of said actuating member being movable upon said pivotalmovement of said actuating member from a first lateral position adjacentsaid one si-de of said housing to a second lateral position relativelymore remote from said iirst side of said housing, whereby said end ofsaid actuating member can engage said surface means on said one side ofsaid apical portion when said cartridge is in said retracted positionand said surface means on said opposite side of said apical portion whensaid cartridge is in said extended position. 14. A pen comprising anelongated tubular housing, a duality of ink cartridge means in saidhousing,

each of said ink cartridge means having an inkdispensing end,

and an oblique surface portion remote from said ink-dispensing end, saidhousing havin-g an aperture therethrough, each of said cartridge meanslbeing movable longitudinally of said housing between an extendedposition in which said ink-dispensing end projects through said apertureand a retracted position in which said inkdispensing end is withdrawninto said houslng, and cartridge-positioning means for selectivelypositioning said cartridge means in either of said positions,

said cartridge-positioning means including an actuating member, acarrier means for holding said cartridge means substantially inparallelism with said housing and guiding said cartridge means forlongitudinal rectilinear movement from said retracted position to saidextended position, said carrier means being movable to bring saidcartridge means selectively into operative relationship with saidactuating member, said actuating member being movable through a strokefrom a lirst to a second position, `guide means for causing saidactuating mem-ber to engage said oblique surface portion of the one ofsaid cartridge means in said operative relationship with said actuatingmember for exerting a force .on said one cartridge means for moving saidone cartridge means from said retracted to said extended position uponsaid movement of said actuating member through said stroke when saidsaid one cartridge means is in said retracted position,

1'9 and retainer means in said `housing engageable with said onecartridge means when said one cartridge means is so moved to saidextended position for thereby holding said one cartridge means in saidextended position, said guide means including means for causing saidactuating member to move laterally to disengage said one cartridge meansand said retainer means upon subsequent movement of said actuatingmember through said stroke for releasing sai-d one cartridge means Aforpermitting movement of said one cartridge means to said retractedposition. 15. A device as recited in claim 14 in whi-ch said carriermeans includes a wall interposed .between said cartridge means, saidretainer means including a spring tab carried by said wall for each ofsaid lcartridge means,

each of said tabs normally lbeing held retracted relative to said wall:by the side of the cartridge means therefor,

each tab being released for movement outwardly when said cartridge meanshas been 1 housing having a tip end, an ink cartridge means movablerelative to said housing between a retracted position and a projectedposition in which said ink cartridge means projects through said tipend, and spring means biasing said cartridge means toward said retractedposition, cornprising cartridge positioning means for positioning saidcartridge means in either of said positions,

said cartridge positioning means including an elevment mova'blelongitudinally of said housing toward and away from said tip end, saidcartridge positioning means including means -for biasing said elementlaterally relative to said housing during said longitudinal movement ofsaid element, and guide means for controlling the amount of lateralmovement of said element to result in lgreater lateral movement withinincreased longitudinal movement toward said tip end,

said element being engageable with one surface of said cartridge meansupon said movement of said element when said cartridge means is in saidretracted position for moving said cartridge means therewith to saidprojected position, and exerting a lateral force on said cartridge meansfor effecting lateral movement of said cartridge means at said onesurface, said cartridge positioning means including a detent meansengageable by said cartridge means upon said movement of said cartridgemeans longitudinally and laterally, said element being moveablelaterally a Igreater amount to disengage said cartridge means from saiddetent means when said element is -moved toward said tipI end when saidcartridge means is in said projected position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,863,421 12/1958Rizzo 1Z0-42.03 2,930,355 3/ 1960 Bollerup 1Z0-42.03 2,930,356 3/ 1960Liguori 1Z0-42.03 3,062,191 11/ 1962 Haltern et al 1Z0-.42.03 3,152,578-10/1964 Hofmann 1Z0-42.13 3,170,440 2/ 1965 Levoin 120-4213 3,170,4412/1965 Levoin 1Z0-42.13 3,183,892 5/1965 Malm 120-42.13

FOREIGN PATENTS r985,040 3/1951 France.

576,287 4/1958 Italy.

LAWRENCE CHARLES, Primary Examiner.

1. A PROJECT-RETRACT MECHANISM FOR A PEN HAVING AN ELONGATED TUBULARHOUSING HAVING A CAP END AND A TIP END, AN INK CARTRIDGE MEANS IN SAIDHOUSING, SAID CARTRIDGE MEANS HAVING AN INK DISPENSING END AND BEINGMOVABLE AXIALLY BETWEEN A RETRACTED POSITION IN WHICH SAID END ISWITHDRAWN INTO SAID HOUSING AND AN EXTENDED POSITION IN WHICH SAID ENDPROJECTS FROM SAID TIP END OF SAID HOUSING, COMPRISING SURFACE MEANS ONTHE OPPOSITE END OF SAID CARTRIDGE MEANS, SAID SURFACE MEANS BEINGCONVERGENT AXIALLY OUTWARDLY WITH RESPECT TO SAID CARTRIDGE MEANS TO ANAPICAL PORTION LATERALLY INWARD OF THE WALL OF SAID HOUSING, ANACTUATING MEANS FOR MOVING SAID CARTRIDGE MEANS TO SAID EXTENDEDPOSITION, SAID ACTUATING MEANS INCLUDING AN ARM MOVABLE LONGITUDINALLYOF SAID HOUSING FROM A FIRST OUTER POSITION TO A SECOND INNER POSITION,SAID ARM HAVING AN END ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID SURFACE MEANS AT SAIDOPPOSITE END OF SAID CARTRIDGE MEANS, SAID ARM INCLUDING RESILIENT MEANSBIASING SAID END OF SAID ARM TOWARD ONE SIDE OF SAID APICAL PORTION,GUIDE MEANS FOR PREVENTING SAID ARM FROM MOVING TO SAID ONE SIDE OF SAIDAPICAL PORTION UNTIL SAID ARM HAS BEEN POSITIONED LONGITUDINALLYRELATIVELY ADJACENT SAID SECOND INNER POSITION, WHEREBY WHEN SAIDCARTRIDGE MEANS IS IN SAID RETRACTED POSITION ADVANCEMENT OF SAID ARMINWARDLY FROM SAID FIRST OUTER POSITION WILL CAUSE SAID END OF SAID ARMTO ENGAGE SAID SURFACE MEANS OF SAID CARTRIDGE MEANS ON THE OPPOSITESIDE OF SAID APICAL PORTION, AND WHEN SAID CARTRIDGE MEANS IS IN SAIDEXTENDED POSITION ADVANCEMENT OF SAID ACTUATING ARM INWARDLY FROM SAIDFIRST OUTER POSITION WILL CAUSE SAID END OF SAID ACTUATING ARM TO EXERTA LATERAL FORCE COMPONENT ON SAID ONE SIDE OF SAID APICAL PORTION, SAIDCONVERGENT SURFACE MEANS OF SAID CARTRIDGE MEANS BEING INCLINED WITHRESPECT TO THE AXIS OF SAID CARTRIDGE MEANS SO AS TO CAUSE SAIDACTUATING ARM TO EXERT AT LATERAL FORCE COMPONENT ON SAID OPPOSITE ENDOF SAID CARTRIDGE MEANS UPON SUCH ENGAGEMENT THEREWITH BIASING SAIDOPPOSITE END OF SAID CARTRIDGE MEANS LATERALLY TOWARD THE SIDE OF SAIDHOUSING OPPOSITE FROM THE SIDE OF SAID APICAL PORTION ENGAGED BY SAIDEND OF SAID ARM, AND AN ABUTMENT IN SAID HOUSING ON SAID ONE SIDE OFSAID APICAL PORTION, SAID CARTRIDGE MEANS INCLUDING A COOPERATIVEABUTMENT ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID FIRST-MENTIONED ABUTMENT UPON MOVEMENT OFSAID CARTRIDGE MEANS TO SAID EXTENDED POSITION AND IN RESPONSE TO THELATERAL FORCE COMPONENT EXERTED BY SAID ACTUATING ARM, THE LATERAL FORCECOMPONENT UPON ENGAGEMENT BY SAID ACTUATING ARM WITH SAID SURFACE MEANSOF SAID CARTRIDGE MEANS ON SAID ONE SIDE OF SAID APICAL PORTION WHENSAID CARTRIDGE MEANS IS IN SAID EXTENDED POSITION MOVING SAID ABUTMENTSOUT OF INTERENGAGEMENT, WHEREBY SAID CARTRIDGE MEANS IS MOVABLE TO SAIDRETRACTED POSITION.